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08/15/2018 at 2:58 pm in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 373: Should Running A Business Be Complicated? #47525
retiredtreasures,
That is a cute doggie! Worth the money if it makes you smile π08/13/2018 at 5:18 pm in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 373: Should Running A Business Be Complicated? #47420My Store Week August 5 – 11, 2018
Total Items in Store: 1098
Items Sold: 11
Total Sales: $302.14
Cost of Items Sold: $18.33
Promoted Listing Sales: 5
Ad Fees for Promoted Listings: $10.58
Highest Price Sold: $75 (Stetson Hat)
ASP: $27.47
STR: 4.3%
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $95
Number of items listed this week: 27Pretty typical week – just busy trying to list whenever I can. I did my monthly Goodwill Outlet visit this week and bought a whole trunk full of stuff dirt cheap to list over the next few weeks. Nothing too special but all bread and butter staples that I know will sell. I paid $12 for 7 pairs of name brand shoes and boots. I also bought a bag full of clothes, 2 mens suits, some 70’s art and costume jewelry, antique books, vintage bags and a collection of sealed train amazing journey VHS tapes and plenty of other odds and ends. I have been thinking I need to broaden my scavenging and figure out how to source better types of items if I am going to grow as a business. I know I need to check out the auction scene and step out of my comfort zone. I am frustrated that I am not making more money, but at least sales-wise, I have been fairly consistent. My STR seems low also, so maybe I’m either pricing too high or getting boring items.
Thank you, Jay and Ryanne, for your podcasts – I appreciate this forum so much! π
buytikiselltiki,
I hate to say this but I get the majority of shipping cost complaints from Canadian prospective customers – more than any other country. I don’t ship First Class International anymore because of (lack of) tracking. Only GSP and Priority Mail International. It always seems to be a complaint about not offering First Class International – actually some of the emails lately have been customers telling me how much less it SHOULD cost along with a too-low-ball offer. I politely decline and move on, but it has me questioning my Canadian strategy on lightweight items – I have wondered if I should exclude Canada because I am unable to provide what many are asking for at the price they want and I am not sure it is worth the trouble of INAD’s or dealing with negative feedback.Hi Mike,
Enjoy your posts on eBay operational improvements! 5 years ago (feels like a former lifetime before I quit my 9 to 5 – I worked for GE) – I was able to earn my green belt in six sigma – (you are probably a master black belt, I am guessing?!?) Anyway, that was a terrific experience… so I know a small bit about KAIZEN!! I apply that mindset everyday when building my eBay business.. how can I maximize my time? Streamline things? Avoid defects? Maximize profits? It is fun like a game of chess.. π
Cheers!Hi Jay,
Good questions, LOL!! I’ll answer from my perspective:βAre angels different then ghosts?
Yes, angels are different than ghosts. Angels are pure spirit and do not (and never had) a body. They do exist and they help us. I do not know much about “ghosts” but believe they would be more of a “disembodied soul” so to speak – someone who has lived and died and is not resting in heaven or hell.βDo ghosts know each other? Can they be friends?
I have no idea.βAre you excited to become a ghost and have a whole other life after this?
I hope I never become a ghost, but I do believe our souls are eternal and that we will know one another beyond this lifetime – hopefully in heaven! πBeverly,
I’m glad you spoke up on a sensitive topic. A lot of people who have an atheist world view may not agree with what you are saying – but certainly with this large of an audience there are some followers who have a religious or spiritual background. I am Catholic and believe that an object can be blessed so conversely I suppose I have to believe the opposite. I definitely believe in a spiritual realm and that is why I mentioned earlier I wouldn’t feel comfortable bringing a Ouija board into my home – not that the board is “haunted”, but that it could open a door to allow something or someone unwanted access, energy, or influence in our lives. My kids would probably love playing with it and well – they are too young and innocent and to me, it just isn’t worth playing around with something I can’t see or explain. It would be very hard to turn down an original 1800’s board like the one Ryanne found, knowing it is worth thousands of dollars though… if I saw one at a yard sale I would be crying inside to pass up something that valuable. I am glad I have never come across one and I hope once they list it they sell their board quickly and for a lot of money! πVery excited to listen to the podcast tomorrow, but first my numbers:
My Store Week July 29 – August 4, 2018
Total Items in Store: 1083
Items Sold: 7
Total Sales: $258.26
Cost of Items Sold: $20.87
Promoted Listing Sales: 1
Ad Fees for Promoted Listings: $9.60
Highest Price Sold: $80 (Vintage Boots)
ASP: $36.89
STR: 2.8%
Returns: 1 (FINAD!!)
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $10
Number of items listed this week: 14Slow week! Hope this week goes better…
If it were me.. I would be irritated.
Considering the fact that you paid for priority AND messaged her that it was time sensitive… AND messaged her again… she at the very least owes you a sincere apology, which she should have given to you. You don’t have to leave her a negative or neutral (although it is not unwarranted) – I would probably open a case (honestly, probably a not-as-described) and return for full refund, all shipping on her. You didn’t get what you needed on time, and you didn’t get what you ordered – which was a priority mailed shipment.
From a seller’s perspective, I have often listed clothing items to ship in a padded flat rate $6.90 and then find later that they can ship with a first class package 15 or 16 oz. In this case, I have sent the item first class and then I’ll refund the shipping difference of $2.00 or so (sometimes I’ll split the difference) and shoot an email – “Good news – I was able to fit this in first class and am refunding the difference, have a great day!”
To avoid this scenario going forward, I created a “Clothing Shipping policy” with “Standard Shipping” Charging $7.95 – which covers my padded flat rate cost + eBay shipping fees + a nominal handling fee. If I get lucky and can manage it first class, I will send it first class and then I do not refund the difference, as my clothing policy is for “Standard Shipping”. If a customer ever emails and says “please send asap” or “I need right away…” I will throw it in a priority padded flat rate and my costs are covered.
Shoe Dog by Phil Knight – Founder of Nike
This was a terrific memoir! Funny, insightful, suspenseful and fascinating all in one!
Shortcut – I am going to read Hillbilly Elegy next, I enjoy non-fiction. Thanks for the recommend.
07/29/2018 at 8:19 pm in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 371: T-Satt (Troy) Reports on eBay Open #46388retiredtreasures, Thank you for posting that – as I think you know, Dayton is in my backyard. I will try to check it out tomorrow towards the end. THANKS!!!
07/29/2018 at 8:16 pm in reply to: Scavenger Life Episode 371: T-Satt (Troy) Reports on eBay Open #46387My Store Week July 22-28, 2018
Total Items in Store: 1074
Items Sold: 13
Total Sales: $365.04
Cost of Items Sold: $21.99
Promoted Listing Sales: 4
Ad Fees for Promoted Listings: $10.13
Highest Price Sold: $89.95 (Lot of Trashies – Trash Pack Toys)
ASP: $28.08
STR: 5.2%
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $32
Number of items listed this week: 7Not a great week for listing because we have been entertaining all week. Slightly better sales than last week at least! I moved my office (upstairs) into my basement unfinished area/packing room – and have big plans to turn this into my photography studio. It has been great to locate my computer/shipping supplies into the same general area – because I pack at night when kids are sleeping and having to go up and down the stairs several times to grab boxes was a real pain. I am excited to have a more professional space, but I have A LOT of work to do and personal non-ebay death piles to deal with and organize. (Kids clothes and shoes and toys and mounds of paperwork, UGH!)
T-Satt thank you for sharing the eBay open knowledge – it is terrific.
Someone this past week also mentioned the custom SKU on mobile ap disappearing and that has been my experience too – it was there for one or two days and then it wasn’t. Too bad, I liked having that function on my phone. I hope they put it back.
My Store Week July 15-21, 2018
Total Items in Store: 1080
Items Sold: 10
Total Sales: $215.18
Cost of Items Sold: $8.69
Promoted Listing Sales: 3
Ad Fees for Promoted Listings: $7.38
Highest Price Sold: $40 (Worn Out Birkenstocks)
ASP: $21.58
STR: 4.0%
Returns: 1 (Hasn’t Shipped Yet – I hope it doesn’t!)
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $23.55
Number of items listed this week: 25Really looking forward to listening to the podcast, and hearing about this Ouija Board! No way I would bring one of those into my home – although I know they are worth a lot of money. Interesting story, I was in a Salvation Army buying some shoes with my kids this past week and we ran in 10 minutes until closing time just to quickly check inventory. The worker was trying to close and shoo everyone out and made an announcement “Get out now, or you will be locked in for the night…” I was standing next to him, so I jokingly said, “Well, it would probably be fun to be locked in here for the night…” and he said emphatically, “NO, no… it wouldn’t at all….” And I asked him why not? He went on to say that the Salvation Army was haunted and that there were ghosts in the building. I asked him how did he know that? He explained that the local ghosthunting club had brought in their equipment and recorded high EVP activity throughout and especially “near the back door” where the donations are stored. “Lots of dead people’s stuff there…” he said. So, that just got me thinking about one of my “creepy dolls” that has been listed for a few years in my basement and am hoping that thing sells someday, LOL!!!
My Store Week July 8-14, 2018
Total Items in Store: 1067
Items Sold: 21
Total Sales: $488.13
Cost of Items Sold: $41.28
Promoted Listing Sales: 6
Ad Fees for Promoted Listings: $14.21
Highest Price Sold: $70 (Vintage Windbreaker from Goodwill Outlet to Russia)
ASP: $22.19
STR: 8.4%
Returns: 0
Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $75
Number of items listed this week: 29Congratulations on your store front – I cannot wait to follow this journey and wish you much success!
Hi Sonia,
I used to use cardboard when I was brand new – but now I use simple poly mailers and no one seems to mind – especially the men who just seem thankful that they don’t need to go shopping! πOk you answered our question! Thanks.. you just saved us all some unnecessary clicking. π
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